And Then Came Tango

A play for young audiences

There is no remedy for love but to love more. Henry David Thoreau








































"
CAST BREAKDOWN

Lily: A 10 year old girl

Walter: A zookeeper

Roy: A shy male penguin

Silo: A curious male penguin from San Diego

Guapo: A very hungry male penguin

Nita: A confident, adventurous female penguin

Wendy: A female penguin from the wild

Wallace: A territorial penguin

Elements: Four dancers*

*The number of elements can change
according to the directors desires. The
elements live in the memory world and help
to create the moments of magic in the script:
moving rocks, eggs, fish, water etc. The
elements act as puppeteers and storytellers.

Facilitators: Four facilitators act as zoo volunteers,
activists, and most importantly, a bridge
between the world of the play and audience.

MUSICIANS:

Piano

Flute

Oboe

Clarinet

Small percussion instruments (shaker, triangle)





#
SETTING

Penguin Exhibit at The Central Park Zoo

NOTES

The penguins do not speak. Penguin communication is highly physical and inspired by authentic
chinstrap penguin movement and physicality. The penguins are never seen out of character.
Movement to and with the music may result in a more stylized or choreographed combination of
penguin movement vocabulary and dance vocabularies.

SYNOPSIS

And Then Came Tango tells a story about love, family, perseverance, and standing up for your
beliefs. The play is inspired by the true story of Roy and Silo, two male penguins living at the
Central Park Zoo who formed a pair bond, built a nest, and were so determined to be parents that
they incubated a rock. When given an orphaned egg, the pair successfully raised a baby
fledgling. The play takes audiences on a journey to the penguin exhibit where Lily, a young
visitor to the zoo, learns to understand the consequences of doing what she believes is right when
faced with a public outcry about Roy and Silos bond. This original work for young audiences
weaves dance, storytelling, and live music with audience interaction through a story that
celebrates families of all shapes and sizes.

























$
Pre-show interaction

The audience is led to a designated seating area on
the floor in the middle of an empty zoo exhibit. The
facilitators are dressed as volunteers for the zoo. As
they greet the audience, they break them into four
small groups; one group for each facilitator. The
exhibit feels dusty and stale, and theres a sign
posted that says Out with the old, in with the new!
Penguin Exhibit Closed until further notice. Once
everyone is seated, the facilitators start the pre-show
interaction.

During the pre-show interaction, the facilitators
create the mood and environment of the aquarium
with the help of the audience. The facilitators invite
the audience to create abstract sounds that represent
what a penguin exhibit might sound like (for
example: cold, blue, icy, etc). The facilitators
introduce conductor signals such as start, volume
(louder/softer), and stop. Once each group has
practiced their individual sounds, the facilitators
will bring the them together to experience the
combined effect of their soundscapes. Suddenly,
Lily enters the exhibit and interrupts the
soundscape, her entrance signals the start of the
play. All of the facilitators turn to Lily, very curious
about her presence.

Scene 1

LILY
Did I make it in time? I wanted to say goodbye before its all.Gone. Its all gone.

(Lily realizes shes not alone.)

(To the facilitators) Did you see where they took them?

FACILITATOR 1
Who?

LILY
The penguins?




%
FACILITATOR 2
No, it was empty when we got here.

(Lily looks around.)

LILY
(Reading the sign) Out with the old and in with the new. Im too late.

(Lily walks over to the large rock structures.
She runs her hands over them and realizes
that everything is covered in dust. Rubbing
her hands clean, she closes her eyes and tries
to remember what the aquarium once looked
like.)

I wish you could have seen- The rocks. The water. The ice. And of course, the penguins. Guapo
and Nita,Wendy and Wallace, Roy and Silo - hopping, swimming, snuggling, and begging for
smelly fish.
(Lily begins to walk around and paint a
picture of what was once a very magical
place. She crouches down by the edge of the
empty tank.)

This is where the penguins would swim! The blue water embracing their small bodies in a
swirling hug.

(The facilitators lead their groups in short
soundscapes to accompany the memory.
Lily closes her eyes and enjoys the sound.
She walks back to the large rock structures.)

And this is where they built their nests. On top of the cold, shinny, ice covered rocks.

(The facilitators lead their rehearsed groups
in a short soundscapes to accompany Lilys
memory.)

Little homes made out of rocks, on top of rocks, on top of rocks

(Lily pantomimes a careful arrangement of
small rocks in a circle.)

One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. In a perfect round circle. It started with just
one. And then there were two. And then two madethree. I was much younger then, with my-



&
backpack, lunch box, school, homework, but if I was good, the zoo! This old exhibit holds so
many memories theres one that Ill never forget. You really have to see it. If we could just go
back in time to when this place was alive! One, then two, and then three. Something happened
that changed everything forever. (To the audience) Will you go with me?

(Facilitators nod enthusiastically. They turn
to their groups ready to conduct the sounds.)

One. Two. Three

(When Lily says three the facilitation
groups join the transforming world around
them with their soundscapes. The penguin
exhibit of the past begins to unfold around
Lily. The elements and music help to bring
the aquarium back to life. Large icy blue silk
fabrics glide over the audience enveloping
them in the new world, the story world, a
world transformed into a happy, bustling
penguin exhibit. The facilitators end their
soundscapes and sit with their groups to
watch the story.)

(Calling out) Walter!
(Walter enters. Lily has been transformed
back to a young girl. In her excitement, she
speaks quickly, barely getting her words out
fast enough. Walters the opposite: slow,
deliberate, and frank. Although frustrated at
times with Lilys constant presence,
something about her doesnt make him turn
her away.)

WALTER
Lily.

LILY
Im back to help again. This time I was thinking maybe youd let me-

WALTER
No.

LILY
Feed the penguins?



'

WALTER
No.

LILY
Maybe tomorrow?

WALTER
No.

LILY
Well can I help you get the fish ready at least? And then maybe I can feed them the day after
tomorrow. Whats on the menu?

WALTER
Herring.

LILY
Like yesterday! And the day before that, and the day before that, and-

WALTER
Bucket?

LILY
Right here!
(Lily grabs the fish bucket.)

Full of fresh, stinky, herring. Can I hold the bucket again while you feed the penguins?

WALTER
Sure.

LILY
Yes! I thought of names you know- for the penguins. It took me all night, but I think its
important that they all have names.

(Walter and Lily enter the aquarium,
stepping over the threshold that separates the
visitors portion of the exhibit from the
penguins habitat.)

WALTER
Careful.




(
LILY
Walter can I name the penguins?

WALTER
Knock yourself out.

LILY
Really?!

WALTER
Bucket.

(Lily hands Walter the bucket brimming
with fish allowing herself a chance to
approach each penguin to give them a
proper name. The penguins are eager to eat.
Especially Guapo, who would do anything
to be the first one fed.)

LILY
(To Guapo) Guapo settle down, everyone is going to get fed! By the way, your name is Guapo.
How do you like it? Its cause youre so handsome. Now dont push Wendy over; she has a hurt
wing remember? How would you feel if you barely missed the jaws of a leopard seal? Walter
hows Wendys wing doing?

WALTER
Who?

LILY
(Pointing to Wendy) Wendy.

WALTER
Oh, better.

LILY
Good!

(Nita approaches Lily and Walter. She
boldly sniffs at Lilys feet.)

Hi Nita! Do you like your name? I named you after my mom. (Whispering to Nita) Youre both
fearless.




)
(Wallace struts by, not wanting to be left
out.)

LILY
Dont worry, I didnt forget you. (Bowing) Greetings Sir Wallace! Walter, dont you think
Wallace acts like he owns the place?

WALTER
Hes territorial.

LILY
That explains a lot. Theres just one more. (To Roy) I had a hard time naming you-

WALTER
(To Roy) Breakfast?

(Roy inches out from behind a rock just far
enough for Walter to throw him a fish. He
quickly retreats.)

LILY
We hardly ever get to see you out and about. But then it came to me, Roy! I dont know why I
like it, but its simple and ends in a y and my name ends with a y. (To Walter) What else do
we have to do today?

WALTER
Patience.

LILY
My mom says that patience is not one of my virtues. I peeked on your calendar and it said that
theres a delivery coming today. Whats in it?

WALTER
A penguin.

LILY
Another penguin? That is so exciting! Wheres it coming from?

WALTER
California.

LILY
Is it a boy or a girl?




*+
WALTER
Girl.

(The elements begin to slowly enter with a
crate that carries a penguin inside.)

LILY
Walter, I think its here!

(The elements bring the crate into the
aquarium space. Walter carefully opens the
crate and steps inside. Sounds of Walter
coaxing the penguin are heard.)

WALTER
Oh no.

LILY
Whats wrong? Is she hurt?

WALTER
No.

LILY
Is she scared?

WALTER
No.

LILY
Is she sleeping?

WALTER
No

LILY
Im running out of ideas here

WALTER
Shes a he!

LILY
Not a she?




**
WALTER
I need to make a call.

(Walter and Lily exit the aquarium. Walter
leaves the exhibit to make his phone call.
Lily introduces herself to the latest addition
to the colony. The new penguin slowly
emerges from the crate.)

LILY
I was planning on naming you Silvia just now in my head. But youre much more of a Silo.
Welcome to the family, Walter calls it the colony, but I know what a family looks like when I
see one.

(Lily watches fascinated as Silo gets
acquainted with all of the penguins. Feeling
threatened, Wallace asserts his dominance,
but Silo doesnt seem bothered by it. In fact,
hes not very interested in the other
penguins at all. Instead he explores the
entire aquarium, hopping from rock to rock,
testing the water in the tank with a quick
dip, and examining all of the best hiding
places. Just as the colony is feeling settled,
Silo stumbles across Roy. Roy comes out
from behind his rock.)

Silo, meet Roy. Roy, meet Silo.

(Roy and Silo get to know one another.)

Scene 2:

(A few days later the aquarium is buzzing
with a different kind of energy. The
penguins are flirting and interacting with
each other; love is definitely in the air.)

LILY
Walter?

WALTER
Lily.




*"
LILY
Something is different. The penguins are acting kind of funny.

WALTER
Mating season.

LILY
Penguin babies! Oh, my, gosh! That is the coolest thing Ive ever heard. Real live baby chicks.
Does that mean the penguins fall in love? How long does it take? When will there be eggs?
When do they hatch? Can I hold one?

WALTER
Patience.

LILY
(Groan) Not one of my virtues. (Singing) L is for the way you look at me, O is for the only one I
seeeeeee.

(Walter continues on with his work. Lily on
the other hand is glued to the aquarium
fascinated with the colonys activities. After
a while, Nita becomes frustrated with
Guapos clumsy displays of affection and
attempts to impress her; she finally seals the
deal herself by presenting a rock to Guapo.
He happily accepts and they perform their
unique pair bond dance. Lily jumps up in
excitement.)

LILY
Walter!

WALTER
Lily.

LILY
Did you see that?

WALTER
Yes.

(Walter enters the aquarium to feed the
penguins and make note of the first pair of
the season. He tosses a fish over to Guapo.



*#
The fish falls directly in front of the
trembling penguin. But Guapo restrains
himself and lets Nita eat first.)

LILY
Now thats true love!

(Meanwhile, Wallace struts and puffs out his
chest, and does everything in his power to
make Wendy notice him. He then searches
for the perfect rock. Bowing his head as
humbly as he can, he presents his chosen
rock to Wendy. She hesitates, making him
anxious for her answer until she finally
accepts. They perform their own unique pair
bond dance.)

LILY
Walter! Wallace just gave Wendy a rock and it looks like she likes it! I thought hed never -

WALTER
Settle down? Me neither.

(Amidst the penguin bonds and displays of
affection Roy and Silo are also forming a
relationship. They are inseparable and
follow each other everywhere.)

LILY
Roy seems so different lately. He used to never come out from behind that rock.

WALTER
I know.

LILY
He seems -

WALTER
Happy.

LILY
I used to think he wanted to be alone, and now hes always with Silo.

WALTER



*$
Hopping together.

LILY
Swimming together.

WALTER
Eating together.

LILY
Hop, hop, hop

WALTER
Splish, splash, splish

LILY
Chomp, chomp, chomp

Walter
SCARF!

(Lily and Walter laugh. She doesnt notice
Walter look back at Roy and Silo.)

LILY
(Singing again) V is very, very extraordinary, E is even more than anyone that you adore
and.LOVE!

Scene 3:
(The penguins are busy exploring the
aquarium in their pairs looking for the best
rocks they can find to build their nests. Lily
enters, a ball of energy.)

LILY
Walter?

WALTER
Lily.

LILY
Any baby penguins yet?

WALTER
Not yet.



*%

LILY
Whats next then?

WALTER
Nests.

LILY
Penguin nests? How does that even work? I dont see sticks or twigs or leaves.

WALTER
Rocks. Lots and lots of rocks.

(The penguin pairs begin to form nests. The
elements help to create the circular rock
structures with the penguins. Lily watches
them work counting the rocks as they are
piled on.)

LILY
Oh!

WALTER
See?

LILY
One, two, three
(When every rock is in place, Wendy and
Nita settle down on top of their new nest.)

WALTER
And now, we wait.

LILY
Waiting is the worst! Waiting and waiting and waiting.

WALTER
Lily.

LILY
What? You said we are waiting and waiting and waiting.

WALTER
Lily -



*&

LILY
Waiting and waiting and waiting.

WALTER
Patience!

LILY
Wait- What about Roy and Silo?

(Roy and Silo watch all of the activity that
surrounds them in the aquarium. Penguins
tending to their new homes, parents sitting
and waiting for their eggs to arrive, and
most obviously, love blooming between
perfectly bonded pairs. The two penguins
share a special moment and start to collect
their own pile of rocks.)

Scene 4:

(A few days pass and finally, Nita and
Wendy reveal the new additions to their
families. The penguin pairs take turns sitting
on their eggs.)

LILY
Walter?

WALTER
Lily.

LILY
Is it time yet?

(Walter shakes his head no and continues
with his work. Lily waits a little bit staring
at the colony. Finally she cant stand it any
longer and has to ask again.)
What about now?

WALTER
No.




*'
(Lily waits a little bit longer.)

LILY
If you had to guess how much time well be waiting....

WALTER
Lily!

LILY
(Sigh) Okay, okay. Were still waiting. Waiting and waiting and waiting. One. Two. Three.Wait-
Walter?

WALTER
Lily.

LILY
Egg! Theres an egg! Nita has an egg!

(Lily can barely talk fast enough.)

Oh, and another one! Look at Wendy shes passing Wallace their egg! One, two

(Walter sees something suspicious.)

WALTER
Wait.

(An egg is discarded by one of the pairs in
the aquarium. It finds its way to the center of
the aquarium; the elements help maneuver it
around the space. Walter quickly shields it
from the cold preparing to take it to the
incubation room. Lily watches.)

LILY
Walter is that egg going to be okay? Where did it come from?

WALTER
One of the pairs discarded it.

LILY
They kicked it out of their nest? Thats sad.

WALTER



*(
Thats nature.

LILY
Where are you taking it?

WALTER
Incubation.

(Walter leaves. Meanwhile Roy and Silo
have built quite a collection of rocks. The
pile of rocks is starting to look more and
more like a circle. And eventually, more and
more like a nest.)

LILY
Silo what are you doing with all of those rocks? It looks like youve got a big collection. I like to
collect rocks too, especially those fancy ones you get at the store inside the science museum and
- (Gasp) Wait! You too? One, two, three. One, two

(Roy appears with a special rock. He places
it carefully in the center of the circle. Silo
promptly sits on the rock. The two perform
their own unique pair bond dance.)

Three.

(Lily is stunned into a moment silence.)

Walter!

WALTER
What?

LILY
Look.

(Walter stares at the pair for a long time.
Without looking at Lily, he makes a note on
his clipboard and starts to walk away.)

Wait! Walter. Whats wrong? They just want to be parents too.

WALTER
Lily -



*)

LILY
What?

WALTER
The Sea Lions need their lunch.

(Walter exits)
Scene 5:

(Theres something new stirring in the
aquarium. A nervous and excited energy
moves through all of the penguins. Wendy
and Wallace, and Guapo and Nita are
anxiously anticipating the arrival of their
baby chicks. Roy and Silo are also restless,
looking down expectantly at their rock. Lily
enters with less of her usual gusto, shes
tentative and doesnt know if Walter is still
upset.)

LILY
Walter?

WALTER
Lily.

LILY
Are we still waiting?

WALTER
Yup.

LILY
I feel like its taking forever for the babys to come.

WALTER
Yup.

LILY
Why is that? Why do they take sooooo long? Its frustrating.

WALTER
Its nature.



"+

LILY
I keep telling my mom, I bet todays the day. Do you think todays the day?

WALTER
Well see.

LILY
That means no.

WALTER
No

(Nita suddenly becomes very excited but
remains calm, Guapo is a mess. He paces
back and forth.)

LILY
Yes or no? Youre confusing me.

WALTER
Wait-

LILY
If I hear the word wait one more time

WALTER
Look!
(Suddenly theres a sound heard all around
the aquarium. CRAAAAAACK!)

LILY
Crack!
(Guapo and Nitas baby chick is born.)

This is so exciting! What do we do? Do we need to check on it? Does it need to be fed? How do
we even do that?

WALTER
Wait-

LILY
Another?
(CRAAAAAACK!)



"*

WALTER
Crack!
(Wendy and Wallaces baby chick is born.)

LILY
Okay, this is too cool. Walter when can I hold one? Can I hold one?

WALTER
No.

LILY
Okay, maybe tomorrow. Whats next?

WALTER
Food.

LILY
Can I help?

WALTER
Yes.
(Lily and Walter feed the penguins, who
then carefully feed their new chicks. Lily
and Walter make their way around to each
nest. Walter takes detailed notes and Lily
tries to stay calm, holding the bucket of fish
for him. Walter finally reaches Roy and
Silos nest. He holds out a big juicy herring,
and the two male penguins turn their heads
in refusal.)

WALTER
Lily?

LILY
What? Do we have to go already? Can we stay for just a little bit longer? My mom said I could
stay later today and I really want to -

WALTER
No.

LILY
Whats wrong?



""

WALTER
Lily.

LILY
Is everything okay with the babies? They look good to me. Theyre so cute and cuddly and-

WALTER
Roy and Silo.

LILY
What?

WALTER
Lets just go.

LILY
No. Walter, whats wrong with them? You can tell me.

WALTER
Theyre not eating.

LILY
Maybe theyre not hungry. Did you feed them a lot this morning?

WALTER
No.

LILY
Maybe they just had a big meal last night. Sometimes if I eat too much I get a really bad
stomachache and-

WALTER
Lily.

(Lily and Walter both look at Roy and Silo.)

LILY
Maybe they thought today was their day too, the day that their rock was going to hatch. One,
two-

WALTER
Three.




"#
(Walter exits without another word, trying
to avoid Lilys worried face. This makes
Lily upset. Shes angry that Walter is just
running away.)


LILY
Walter wait! He keeps doing that!
(She starts to throw a fit and gets so
exacerbated she kicks a rock-, hard.)

LILY
(Groan) Ouch. (Turning to the facilitators) Whats going on?

(The facilitators turn towards their small
audience groups and brainstorm suggestions
for Lily. They ask the following questions:
Whats happening? Why are Roy and Silo
not eating? Whats wrong with Walter?
Once the audience has described the
situation, the facilitators encourage the
audience to question why. They list their
ideas on a pad of paper or poster board.
Each facilitator shares ideas with Lily.)

LILY
I guess I didnt realize all that.

I cant sit around waiting anymore. Whenever I have a really big problem, my mom says to focus
on the facts, then she says things will become clear. 1. Roy and Silo are not eating. 2. They look
really really sad. 3. All they want is their own baby. (Thinking and then light bulb) I got it!
(Looking back at the incubated egg) I know what Im going to do, just dont tell anyone okay?

(Lily leaves and returns with the egg from
the incubation room. She gestures to the
audience to be quiet. Slowly and carefully
she enters the aquarium, makes her way over
to Roy and Silo and proudly presenting them
the egg. They both move out of the way and
shes able to place it gently at the center of
their nest.)

Roy and Silo, meet your egg. Egg, meet your daddies.




"$
(And just like penguin parents do, they both
take turns sitting on the egg. Lily sits back
and watches, singing a familiar tune.)

(Singing) Love is all that I can give to you. Love is more than just a game for two

Scene 6:

(Walter enters. He goes around his usual
business and checks on each pair. Just as
hes leaving the aquarium, he does a double
take. Sure enough, he sees Silo slowly shift
so that Roy can take over sitting on, not a
rock, but an egg.)

WALTER
Oh no.

(Lily enters)

Lily?

LILY
Walter.

WALTER
Lily.

LILY
What? Theyre naturals. Just look at them! And whats so wrong with it anyway?

WALTER
Lily-

LILY
Dont be mad Walter. I was really worried about them. They look so happy now.

WALTER
Lily-

LILY
You just kept on leaving! Somebody had to help them. All they needed was an egg! One, two,
and now three! Theyre a family. Its going to be all right.




"%
WALTER
Its all wrong.

(Suddenly, Lilys conversation with Walter
is interrupted by a chorus of reporters who
are played by the Facilitators. They clear
their voices, pick up microphones, and put
on jackets, signaling a change of character.)

FACILITATOR 1
Good morning New York City!

FACILITATOR 2
Thank you for joining your favorite local station, WBCN.

FACILITATOR 3
Were here at the Central Park Zoo with breaking news.

FACILIATOR 4
The Penguin Exhibit has become the scene of an unlikely love story between two male penguins,
Roy and Silo.

FACILITATOR 1
Weve received information that the penguins were given an orphaned egg in the exhibit by a
zookeeper. They are not releasing his name.

WALTER
Ridiculous!

FACILITATOR 2
The egg has created a huge controversy. Activists have collected outside the zoo. Some believe
that the zoo needs to take action against the zookeeper. No one can come to an agreement and
the zoo is refusing to comment on their newest penguin family.

FACILTIATOR 3
Some people are
(The news reporters begin to overlap,
repeating their lines to create a
choral effect that builds in intensity
and volume.)

FACILITATOR 4
Furious.




"&
FACILTIATOR 3
Others are -

FACILTATOR 1
Thrilled.

FACILTIATOR 3
All of them are

FACILTATOR 2
Loud.

FACILTATOR 4
Very loud.

FACILTATOR 1
Debating.

FACILTATOR 3
Arguing.

FACILTATOR 4
Crowds.

FACILTATOR 1
Blocking the entrance of the zoo!

FACILTATOR 2
They all want to be heard.

LILY
I didnt know this was going to happen.

(The facilitators transform from reporters to
a crowd of activists. They represent multiple
viewpoints, some in support of the penguins,
and some against. They hold signs. The
protest is performed using repetitive and
mechanical gestures. Multiple viewpoints
are presented at first, but eventually the
activists who are against the penguin union
take over. Walter attempts to make his way
to the exhibit.)




"'
WALTER
Excuse me.
(The activists block Walter from getting to
the penguins.)

I work here.
(They continue to block Walter from
entering.)

Excuse me.
(They refuse to let him through, growing
more violent.)

I need to get to work.
(The pushing now is scaring Walter.)

Get out of my way!

(Walter finally pushes his way into the
exhibit exacerbated. He tries to go about his
usual routine, attempting to ignore the
activists and the news reporters outside but
he is unable to. The penguins are starting to
get nervous. Walter sees Roy and Silo and is
deeply moved by their natural instincts to
protect their egg. He begins to feel
protective as well.)

(To the penguins) Itll be okay.

(Lily struggles to make her way into the
exhibit.)

LILY
(To the activists) STOP! Just leave them alone!

(Roy and Silo continue to protect their
special egg.)

(Scared) Walter?

WALTER
Lily.




"(
(Lily rushes to Walters side, and almost
hugs him but holds back. The facilitators
slowly put their signs down and sit with the
audience, no longer representing the
activists, although we still understand that
they are out there.)

LILY
What are we going to do?

WALTER
I dont know.

LILY
When I gave them the egg I had no idea this would happen. I didnt know that other people
would care or get upset. Theyre really, really upset.

WALTER
The zoo wants me to split the penguins up. Silo will go back to California.

LILY
Walter you cant! What about the egg?

WALTER
Ill take care of it.

LILY
But you said to me that the eggs are extremely fragile, and if theyre taken away from the parents
they might not survive.

WALTER
Lily, you dont understand whats at stake. Just leave this to the adults.

LILY
But you saw what happened to Roy and Silo. Theyll stop eating, they might die if you split them
up! Thats whats at stake! And now they need to protect the egg.

WALTER
And I need to protect my job.

LILY
Walter, just look at them. This is what theyre meant to do.




")
(Roy and Silo gently take turns sitting on the
egg. When one of the parents is on the egg,
the other is helping to prune feathers, check
on the nest, and snuggling close to keep
each other warm.)

WALTER
Lily-

(Walter hesitates, hes about say something
very honest to Lily, but he cant.)

This is what I mean. Youre just too young to understand! I cant sit around and explain this to
you. There are other animals in the zoo that need me too.

(Walter leaves)

LILY
(Too Walter) I understand completely, youre scared! (To the facilitators) I need your help. Did
you see how the activists had those signs? They dont seem that hard to make. Let me grab my
backpack, Ive got some markers and paper from school.

(The facilitators turn to the audience and
discuss the activists and their signs. They
ask the audience the following questions:
What did they notice about the signs, what
did the signs say? Once the audience has
described the signs (the facilitators may
even want to hold one of the signs as an
example for their group), the facilitators
question further. They ask the audience:
What do you think the signs mean and why
do they say what they do? How does this
relate to Roy and Silo? They list ideas on a
pad of paper or poster board. The facilitators
invite multiple voices to share their ideas.)

(Lily comes back with supplies.)

Okay now I can tell them what I want to say!

(She raises a marker ready to write
something on a poster board.)




#+
What do I want to say? (Pause) This is a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.

(In the four smaller groups each facilitator
brainstorms with the audience about what
they think Lilys poster could say. They list
ideas on a pad of paper or poster board.
They ask the audience the following
questions: How does Lily feel in this
moment? Why does she feel this way? What
does Lily believe? What do you think her
sign could say to show that? Why is it
sometimes hard to stand up for what you
believe? The facilitators then share some
ideas with Lily.)

LILY
Thats it!

(Lily writes one or combination of the
messages that the audience shared with her
on her own activist sign. She stands and
begins to loudly share the words shes
written. Lily doesnt see Walter enter.)

WALTER
Lily.

(Walters proud. But he tries to hide it.)

LILY
Okay Walter I know youre going to be mad at me but listen, I just thought that if we gave them
a taste of their own medicine.

WALTER
Lily-

LILY
What does that even mean? My moms always saying it.

WALTER
Lily!

LILY
But really, I think we can convince the zoo to let you keep your job and-



#*

WALTER
Wait.

LILY
No, Walter, I think I have a really good idea for what we can say to them and if you just listen I
think youll agree with me-

WALTER
Lily-

LILY
Walter I just-

WALTER
Listen!

(And then the loudest
CRAAAAAAAAAAAAACK yet is heard
around the aquarium.)

LILY and WALTER
Crack!?!

(Roy and Silo step back and their baby chick
is born. Roy and Silo carefully clean and
preen and snuggle the new addition to their
family. Walter and Lily rush into the
aquarium to check on the newest addition to
the colony.)

WALTER
Look at that.

LILY
Is it okay?

WALTER
Yes.

LILY
I knew theyd be good parents.
(Lily and Walter watch Roy and Silo for a
moment. They enter the aquarium. Walter



#"
picks up the chick, which Roy and Silo
dont like, so he quickly puts her back in the
nest.)

WALTER
Its a girl.

LILY
Thats what you wanted! Remember? When Silo came and you thought it was going to be a girl
penguin, all the way from California. Remember Walter?

WALTER
Yup.

LILY
Its meant to be.

WALTER
I guess so.

LILY
I know so.

WALTER
She needs a name.

LILY
I almost forgot! Let me think

WALTER
Tango.

LILY
Huh?

WALTER
That should be her name.

LILY
Why?

WALTER
It takes two to Tango. One, two, and.




##
LILY
Three.

(Lily and Walter step back and watch the
penguins family. Roy and Silo care for
Tango just like all the other parents in the
aquarium. They preen her feathers, snuggle
her close, feed her, and eventually show her
how to hop, and swim.)

LILY
Look at them go.

WALTER
Hop, hop, hop.

LILY
Splish, splash, splish.

WALTER
Chomp chomp chomp.

LIIY and WALTER
SCARF!

(Lily and Walter laugh. Caught in the
moment Lily reaches for Walter and gives
him a big hug. Hes surprised at first, but
then hugs her back.)

WALTER
(Embarrassed) Thats enough.

LILY
What happens next?

WALTER
I dont know.

LILY
They cant take her can they?

WALTER
I dont know. If you believe in something enough, youll do anything to make it happen.



#$

LILY
Thats how I feel.

WALTER
Me too.

(Lily and Walter smile at each other. They
actually agree on something.)
Lily?

LILY
Walter.

WALTER
Would you like to help me feed the penguins?


LILY
Really? This time can I actually feed the penguins and not just hold the stinky bucket?

WALTER
Yup.

(Lilys frozen; shes actually getting what
she wants.)

LILY
Bucket?

(Lily springs into action grabbing the bucket
and entering the aquarium with Walter. As
Lily and Walter feed the penguins the world
begins to disappear bit by bit; first Walter,
then the penguins, then the environment, and
eventually the fabric water which envelopes
the audiences one last time, drawing us back
to the present where an empty space waits:
the exhibit that no longer exists.)

LILY
And thats the story of Roy, Silo, and Tango. One, two, and then three.

(Lily looks around the exhibit still worried.)



#%

Can you see why Im worried? I dont know where they were taken.

(Walter enters, older, but with a big smile.)

WALTER
I thought youd come back.

LILY
Walter?

WALTER
Lily.

(They hug)

LILY
What happened to the penguins?

WALTER
You didnt think Id let a silly remodeling project split up the colony? After all these years? Lily
I thought you knew me better than that.

LILY
Theyre all okay? Roy, Silo Tango? Where are they? Can I see them?

WALTER
Patience.


End of Play