We Might Be Heroes: We'll All Be Okay

                (GEOFF is standing onstage.)

                                                                                GEOFF

Hey, uh—I don’t have a superpower.  Not that it matters.  The aliens went right past us.  They did hover for a little while over Turkey, but then—Poof.  Just like that.  So now we’re all here—superheroes, out in the open, and the rest of us—Well…The rest of us feeling like, you know, we’re the…other ones.  But like I said, there is one thing I can do.  Actually, anybody can do it, if you—Hey, never mind.  Let me just show you.  I need a volunteer from the audience.  Preferably somebody who isn’t having the best day.

                                                                (She finds someone and brings them onstage.)

                                               

Now, I need you to be honest with me okay?  But your secrets—all your secrets—are safe with me.  Just know that, all right?

                (The AUDIENCE MEMBER presumably nods or something.)

Okay.  Now, I want you to whisper in my ear the name of a person you’ve loved very much.

(GEOFF leans in and waits for the AUDIENCE MEMBER to whisper.  Once that happens, she nods.)

Okay, thank you.  Now, tell me about a time when you were either physically or emotionally, very hurt by something or someone.

                (GEOFF leans in.  Another whisper.)

Thank you so much for that.  Now, tell me about someone or something you’ve lost that meant a great deal to you.

                (Another lean-in, another whisper.)

I just want to tell you something.  I really like you.  I know I just met you, but honestly, I really feel close to you.  Would it be okay if I gave you a hug?

(The AUDIENCE MEMBER hopefully says yes.  If the AUDIENCE MEMBER says ‘No,’ have GEOFF say ‘Would anybody else like a hug?’ and then ask the first person to sit down after saying to them ‘Thank you for coming up here.  I wish you the best, I really do.  You’re going to be okay,’ then bring the second person up, start the play over, and continue from that point on.)

Now that we’ve hugged.  I just want to say to you—Everything’s going to be okay, all right?  I know you don’t believe me, because I’m an actor on a stage and somebody gave me lines to say and so you think maybe I’m insincere, but I promise you that they cast the most sincere person they could find in my role so that when the time came to do this, to talk to you, and hug you, and convince you that you’re going to be okay—you’d know that it was all true.  All right?  So listen to me, you’re going to be okay.

                (A beat.)

Just keep looking at me, okay?  I don’t need you to do anything, but look at me for now and listen, okay?

You’re going to be fine.  You might not be great, but you’ll be fine.

                (GEOFF turns to the AUDIENCE.)

Now, can anyone else in the audience who wants to help someone out come up here and tell this person they’re going to be okay?  You can also hug them, but only if they initiate a hug first.  Just be advised that a hug may be expected of you.  Okay, let’s do it.

(The next section takes place just as GEOFF has described.  If nobody comes up, GEOFF says ‘That’s okay.  I get it.  It’s cool.’  And the play continues.  To the AUDIENCE MEMBER.)

Thanks for coming up here today.  That was very brave of you.  I’ve had bad days too, but the next time I do, I’ll remember this.  One more hug?

                (One more hug.  Then--)

Thank you for this.  You can go back to your seat now, and I’m going to go backstage.  But we’re going to be friends after this, okay?  You’re always going to be my friend.

(The AUDIENCE MEMBER returns to their seat.)

Thank you all for coming.  And hey listen, we’re all heroes to somebody, right?  Have a good night.  Drive safe.  And buckle up.

                End of Play