Cock’s Crow
October 14th, 2020
Starring: Farmer 1 & 2, Rooster
The farm. Morning, just past dawn. The sun is already well on the rise. The Farmers are out in the yard, staring at a large Rooster sitting on the fence.
FARMER 1
It’s time.
FARMER 2
You promised.
FARMER 1
That we’d do it when it was time.
FARMER 2
He’s not sick.
FARMER 1
He’s senile. His timing’s all off.
FARMER 2
We don’t need him to wake us up.
FARMER 1
Right. So we don’t need him.
FARMER 2
We never did. It was always symbolic.
FARMER 1
This is what he would want.
FARMER 2
How do you know what he wants?
FARMER 1
It’s what I would want.
FARMER 2
Well not everyone wants what you want.
FARMER 1
It’s the humane thing to do.
FARMER 2
Killing him before he suffers?
FARMER 1
No. He’s already suffering. The suffering is that he doesn’t know he’s suffering.
FARMER 2
What about the kids? They’re gonna freak.
FARMER 1
I’ll tell them the same thing. As soon as I start losing it, kill me.
FARMER 2
What if he was your dad? Would you feel the same way?
…
FARMER 1
I don’t know.
All I know is that he’s not my dad. He’s a rooster. A rooster who’s lived a long, fulfilling life.
...
Please let me kill him.
…
FARMER 2
I’ll go make some coffee.
FARMER 1
Thanks.
I promise I’ll be quick.
Farmer 2 gives one last longing look at the Rooster, then heads back to the house. The Rooster crows, but it’s well past sunup: too late. Farmer 1 picks up the Rooster and pets him, walking towards the shed:
FARMER 1
I know big daddy.
I know.