Harbinger
September 27th, 2020
Starring: Lovebird 1, Lovebird 2 (30-35)
A wooded nature trail. Lots of birdsong. The Lovebirds stand on some rotting observation deck a little off the trail. They’re alone. They both have backpacks at their feet and binoculars, which they’re staring into.
LOVEBIRD 1
Right there!
Holy shit do you see it?
LOVEBIRD 2
No—
LOVEBIRD 1
The little scarlet looking guy right there!
LOVEBIRD 2
I don’t know where right there is—
LOVEBIRD 1
I’m pointing—
LOVEBIRD 2
Well I can’t look at you and look at the tree at the same time
…
LOVEBIRD 2
Gone?
LOVEBIRD 1
We’ll see another.
LOVEBIRD 2
You sure about that?
LOVEBIRD 1
Hon—
LOVEBIRD 2
What.
LOVEBIRD 1
You look like...betrayed.
LOVEBIRD 2
I’m fine.
LOVEBIRD 1
It’s not a dig at you.
LOVEBIRD 2
I’m not taking it like that.
…
I think I’m dehydrated.
LOVEBIRD 1
Well finish the water in my bag.
Lovebird 2 looks down to take the water out. As this happens, 1 takes a sharp inhalation of breath.
LOVEBIRD 2
It just came back, didn’t it?
LOVEBIRD 1
What?
LOVEBIRD 2
You just mini gasped.
LOVEBIRD 1
No…
LOVEBIRD 2
No. Admit it. You just tried to cover up the fact that you saw something.
Because you think I need to be protected from the truth, or something. Right?
...
Wow. That silence said a lot.
…
At least tell me what you saw.
LOVEBIRD 1
There were five of them. All on one branch.
LOVEBIRD 2
Awesome. Just awesome.
…
What were they?
LOVEBIRD 1
You were talking about them in the car.
Harbinger?
LOVEBIRD 2
Harbinger? What the hell is a harbinger?
LOVEBIRD 1
I thought that’s what they’re called.
…
LOVEBIRD 2
Do you mean Tanagers?
LOVEBIRD 1
Maybe, yeah.
LOVEBIRD 2
You just called a Tanager a harbinger.
LOVEBIRD 1
I mean whatever, you knew what I meant.
LOVEBIRD 2
No, it’s not whatever. It’s not whatever.
Tanager and Harbinger are not whatever compatible. They’re not even remotely the same word.
LOVEBIRD 1
I don’t know why you’re making such a big stink—
LOVEBIRD 2
But I talked the whole way here about Tanagers. The whole damn drive.
LOVEBIRD 1
I remember.
LOVEBIRD 2
But then you called them harbingers, so obviously you weren’t listening to me.
LOVEBIRD 1
I was listening to you.
LOVEBIRD 2
Well obviously not that great.
LOVEBIRD 1
It was a brain fart—
Lovebird 2 picks up the binoculars and pretends to see a bird:
LOVEBIRD 2
Oh hey look, I just saw a harbinger right there!
LOVEBIRD 1
Stop—
LOVEBIRD 2
Wow, look at it! I really love what it’s saying about our future!
LOVEBIRD 1
You’re such a baby—
LOVEBIRD 2
And you can tell it’s a harbinger by its signature song, “Counseling! Counseling! Counselinglingling!
LOVEBIRD 1
Just stop.
I’ll see you back at the room.
LOVEBIRD 2
Really?
LOVEBIRD 1
Yeah. Really.
If you make it back in time to apologize, our spa appointment’s at 4.
LOVEBIRD 2
Come on—
LOVEBIRD 1
No, you come on. Take a deep breath and have a fucking Clif bar and chill. I need some space.
Don’t follow me.
Lovebird 1 picks up their backpack and walks back down the trail. Lovebird 2 watches 1 trudge off. Some time passes. 2 tries to play off the incident by looking for Tanagers, but finds none.
2 takes out a Clif bar from the backpack and eats it. Then a deep breath. Much better.
2 packs up and trudges down the trail, off to win back 1.